Disclaimer: See part 1
A/n: God, this is the fastest I've ever written in my life.only, I have
this habit of coming up with chapters in the middle of my government class,
so I can't write them down, so I lose them.but bear with me.
A/n2: I *did* try to make this one longer, but like I said in part 1, I have trouble with long chapters.lol just read and review. Also, to all the people who mentioned the formatting for chapter one: I had it in a good format (or so I thought) when I wrote it, but when I posted, it came out in a different format totally. So I *will* repost! And thanks for all the reviews!!
A/n3: This took longer than I expected, because I found other formatting problems that needed fixing in *all* my chapters, so I'm doing that now. From now on: -Max's thoughts are in -Logan's thoughts are in // -other characters thoughts are in ^^ *****************************************************************
When Max woke on Tuesday morning, she heard Logan's coffee maker running. She also heard the steady click-click-click of his computer. Odd how comforting something so annoying can be. She approached him warily, wondering if his feelings could possibly have changed overnight. Come on, Max, that's ridiculous. She leaned over by him to glance at the screen. Yahoo! Pool? Hmm. "Morning, you."
"Hey. There's food in the kitchen, if you want it."
"*If* I want it? Are you crazy?" She made her way into the kitchen, greeted by the smells of pancakes and coffee.
Her pager beeped again while she was eating. Cindy.what does she want? She suddenly realized that today was a weekday, and that it was quite possibly later than she thought. "Uh, Logan? What time is it?" Please don't be late.Please don't be late.
"Nine-thirty, why?"
"Crap. I-I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow?" She breezed through the office, picking up her jacket and kissing him lightly, leaving before he could react.
Logan heard the door click shut, pulling him from his thoughts. /Max kissed me./ It had taken him a moment to react, and now he sat in his office, one hand on his lips, wondering whether she would return the next day. /She won't run, will she? God, I hope not./
Max arrived at Jam Pony, fully expecting to be bombarded by questions about the previous night. Just as she expected, Cindy pounced on her with an amazing lack of subtlety.
"So, Boo, what when down last night? You an' Moneybags do anything I wouldn't do?" She grinned broadly, sure she had the right answer.
"Well, ah.nothin' you *would* do, actually, and nothin' Kendra would either. Basically, we figured out that we were in love with each other.and then we talked a lot, and then I slept over. In the guest room."
"Damn, Boo. Didn't expect that kinda thing.just glad you two are over that whole deal about 'we're not like that'. You actually think anybody believed that?"
"We were really that transparent?" Max blushed, although she already knew that her friends had realized her feelings for Logan long before she herself had.
"Crystal clear, shuga. This doesn't mean you're gonna be spending 24/7 over there from now on, does it? 'Cause y'know, transgenic escapee or not, you're my girl, and I've never been too fond of sharing."
"We'll always be tight, Cin."
"Promise?"
"On Lydecker's cold, dead body." Max hugged her roommate briefly. Boy, this emotion thing comes easy once you get used to it. She was about to open her locker when she heard a familiar sound. It was a whistle, a series of whistles that she recognized. Four whistles, a pause, five more, a pause, and a final two. Zack's code.
She chorused the standard reply, an action that she didn't even think about. 5-9-9. When she saw her *brother* standing outside, she pulled Cindy along after her. "Normal, we need a personal day."
"Not unless one of you is literally bleeding to death." Normal knew that he wouldn't be able to stop them from leaving anyway, docked pay or not. "Fine, fine, go on, but I expect a doctor's note tomorrow!" The last sentence was called after their rapidly retreating forms.
When they got to Max and OC's apartment, Zack seemed to notice the other woman for the first time. "Original Cindy, right?"
"In the flesh. That would make you Zack?"
"Uhh." He shot a quick glare at Max. "Baby sister?"
"She knows."
"You told? Maxie, that's not exactly maintaining a low profile. The more people-"
"Yeah, yeah, 'the more people who know, the more I can get hurt'. But I had to save her life, which involved letting her in on my little secret." Max brushed off her older brother's criticism easily. "What's the sitch?"
"Just checking up. Zane had a run-in with some goons in L.A., so I thought maybe you or Jondy might have had trouble."
"How long are you here?" Desperate for sibling time, Max was trying to coax him into staying.
"I was gonna leave as soon as I saw you. It's easier that way."
"Easier for what, Zack? Easier for the mission? There *is* no mission! We're not soldiers anymore. Or is it easier on you? Easier for you not to have to deal with me, because you know I don't see you like that? I'm sorry, Zack, but you'll always just be my brother. I love you to death, but not the way I love Lo-" She slammed her hand over her mouth, shocked at how easily she had said those words.
"Logan. Dammit, I should've known. It's always about your precious Miracle Boy, isn't it? How can you love him?! He's an ordinary, Maxie, and he'll get you killed. If you get him captured, they'll torture him 'til he gives away your location, and none of us can afford that. Are you willing to risk all our lives for one man?"
"Yeah, I think I am." Max muttered the words so quietly that Zack almost missed them; even then, he refused to believe them.
"What did you say?" All of Zack's anger exploded. "You would give up everything we have for *him*? I knew it!" He sighed. "I knew he'd convince you that you could have some kind of normal life, and that you'd believe him, and that you'd get hurt eventually. But you know what? Don't come crying to me or the others when he breaks your heart or winds up dead. Because I guarantee you, there won't be a transgenic shoulder in the whole damn world for you to cry on."
"Hey!" Original Cindy butted in angrily, sensing the toll this conversation was having on her friend. "I know you're this big tough soldier-guy or whatever, but you can't just get up in here and start attacking my boo like that. If she's got something good, and you really love her, then I think you'd better be happy for her. God knows she deserves it, after everything you and that hellhole you came from have put her through. And until you can be happy for her, I think you'd better get the hell out of her town."
Zack turned all his anger on her now, glad for a new target. "I don't think so. I don't take orders from civilians."
"Dammit, Zack, why won't you just give up? There are no civilians, and no soldiers, and no chain of command here. We aren't in Manticore anymore. I know the others may be willing to just blindly follow you, but I'm not like that! I have a life, and I have friends, and I have, believe it or not, people who love me. I have a family here, as hard as it might be for you to imagine that people could love a genetically engineered killing machine." Max turned away, still speaking, albeit in quieter volume. "If you can't accept that, then you should just go. You can come back when you've learned what an asshole you are."
"But.Maxie.I." Zack, ever the steel-hearted soldier, was at a loss for words. Original Cindy seized the opportunity, using a trick one of her old girlfriends had taught her. She grabbed his earlobe, pinching it tightly between her fingernails and using it to drag him toward the door.
"You're leaving now. Next time, try something called a telephone." She knew that the more powerful X5 could easily escape, but she had caught him off guard both by the pain brought by the move and the bold nature of her actions, and that shock alone forced him out the door.
When her brother was gone, Max fell into her roommate's arms. "God, how screwed up is he?
"Sorry, girl, but you got one messed up family. Wouldn't be bad if he was just all 'bout you, like I can see he is, 'cause you're not exactly related or nothin'. But see, the creepy thing is how he keeps calling you baby sister and all. Original Cindy just can't feel that." She smoothed back the younger girl's hair, intent on cheering her up. "Now I feel like I gotta do somethin' for my girl so she's not all down on herself. Lemme see those nails."
Max held out her hands for inspection, laughing when her friend scolded her. "Girl, these are not tools! These are nails! You do not use them to fight, or to open various doors, or to.do whatever else it is you do!"
"If they're there, why not? Kick or be kicked in the ass world out there, OC. Gotta take advantage of everything I got to get ahead."
"Damn. Not many people can out-argue Original Cindy, boo, and you've made it an art!" She worked carefully on her friend's nails, finally satisfied that they passed inspection.
"I try." Max eyed her no-fuss manicure, the relief that it didn't look anything like Original's long purple-and-blue nails evident on her face.
"I guess you'll be at Logan's tonight?"
"I.actually, I was thinking I would stay over here. Y'know, do the friend thing?" Max's voice carried an unsure tone, one that was immediately picked up on.
"Girl, what is it? Not that I don't appreciate bein' thought of, but I figured once you and him had somethin', you'd be over there full-time. And you know I'm all for that. Whatever makes you happy, girl."
"I just.what if I shouldn't, y'know? It's not like I came over 24/7 before last night anyway, so would it be weird if I did now? It's not like we've actually said we were going out or anything.and what if he changes his mind?"
"Oh, I get it now. You're having second thoughts, and you think he is too. Well, lemme tell you somethin'. You didn't see him when I called last night. He came runnin' over here, all pretending like he wasn't scared, and just scooped you up and took you back to his place. I have never- never- seen a guy who cared that much about a girl."
"So you think I should go over there."
"Hell, yes! But first we gotta get you all beautified." Original Cindy's eyes held a renewed gleam, something Max was both glad to see and wary of at the same time. She ran back to Max's room, digging through the curtained-off closet space until she found what she needed. She pushed the outfit into Max's arms, pushing her into the bedroom. "You better come out here with *that* outfit on, and no protesting!"
When Max emerged a few minutes later, she was wearing skintight leather pants, her favorite combat boots, and a sheer silver top with just a few extra sparkles to keep everything out of sight. "Cin."
"I know it's girlie, and I know it's.well, to be blunt, sexy as hell, and you're probably not too comfortable with that, but just trust me. That boy won't be able to think straight for a week!" She led Max to the door, pointing out that the sun had set just a few minutes ago. "Now get gone."
***************************************************************** A/n: And this is where I'm ending it. The next chapter is probably going to skip a few months into the future, so that their relationship is developed more. Because while I'm *not* good at writing the beginning of a new relationship, I can write the problems that they face later on! I guess I don't have to tell you to review.but I am anyway, so REVIEW!
A/n2: I *did* try to make this one longer, but like I said in part 1, I have trouble with long chapters.lol just read and review. Also, to all the people who mentioned the formatting for chapter one: I had it in a good format (or so I thought) when I wrote it, but when I posted, it came out in a different format totally. So I *will* repost! And thanks for all the reviews!!
A/n3: This took longer than I expected, because I found other formatting problems that needed fixing in *all* my chapters, so I'm doing that now. From now on: -Max's thoughts are in -Logan's thoughts are in // -other characters thoughts are in ^^ *****************************************************************
When Max woke on Tuesday morning, she heard Logan's coffee maker running. She also heard the steady click-click-click of his computer. Odd how comforting something so annoying can be. She approached him warily, wondering if his feelings could possibly have changed overnight. Come on, Max, that's ridiculous. She leaned over by him to glance at the screen. Yahoo! Pool? Hmm. "Morning, you."
"Hey. There's food in the kitchen, if you want it."
"*If* I want it? Are you crazy?" She made her way into the kitchen, greeted by the smells of pancakes and coffee.
Her pager beeped again while she was eating. Cindy.what does she want? She suddenly realized that today was a weekday, and that it was quite possibly later than she thought. "Uh, Logan? What time is it?" Please don't be late.Please don't be late.
"Nine-thirty, why?"
"Crap. I-I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow?" She breezed through the office, picking up her jacket and kissing him lightly, leaving before he could react.
Logan heard the door click shut, pulling him from his thoughts. /Max kissed me./ It had taken him a moment to react, and now he sat in his office, one hand on his lips, wondering whether she would return the next day. /She won't run, will she? God, I hope not./
Max arrived at Jam Pony, fully expecting to be bombarded by questions about the previous night. Just as she expected, Cindy pounced on her with an amazing lack of subtlety.
"So, Boo, what when down last night? You an' Moneybags do anything I wouldn't do?" She grinned broadly, sure she had the right answer.
"Well, ah.nothin' you *would* do, actually, and nothin' Kendra would either. Basically, we figured out that we were in love with each other.and then we talked a lot, and then I slept over. In the guest room."
"Damn, Boo. Didn't expect that kinda thing.just glad you two are over that whole deal about 'we're not like that'. You actually think anybody believed that?"
"We were really that transparent?" Max blushed, although she already knew that her friends had realized her feelings for Logan long before she herself had.
"Crystal clear, shuga. This doesn't mean you're gonna be spending 24/7 over there from now on, does it? 'Cause y'know, transgenic escapee or not, you're my girl, and I've never been too fond of sharing."
"We'll always be tight, Cin."
"Promise?"
"On Lydecker's cold, dead body." Max hugged her roommate briefly. Boy, this emotion thing comes easy once you get used to it. She was about to open her locker when she heard a familiar sound. It was a whistle, a series of whistles that she recognized. Four whistles, a pause, five more, a pause, and a final two. Zack's code.
She chorused the standard reply, an action that she didn't even think about. 5-9-9. When she saw her *brother* standing outside, she pulled Cindy along after her. "Normal, we need a personal day."
"Not unless one of you is literally bleeding to death." Normal knew that he wouldn't be able to stop them from leaving anyway, docked pay or not. "Fine, fine, go on, but I expect a doctor's note tomorrow!" The last sentence was called after their rapidly retreating forms.
When they got to Max and OC's apartment, Zack seemed to notice the other woman for the first time. "Original Cindy, right?"
"In the flesh. That would make you Zack?"
"Uhh." He shot a quick glare at Max. "Baby sister?"
"She knows."
"You told? Maxie, that's not exactly maintaining a low profile. The more people-"
"Yeah, yeah, 'the more people who know, the more I can get hurt'. But I had to save her life, which involved letting her in on my little secret." Max brushed off her older brother's criticism easily. "What's the sitch?"
"Just checking up. Zane had a run-in with some goons in L.A., so I thought maybe you or Jondy might have had trouble."
"How long are you here?" Desperate for sibling time, Max was trying to coax him into staying.
"I was gonna leave as soon as I saw you. It's easier that way."
"Easier for what, Zack? Easier for the mission? There *is* no mission! We're not soldiers anymore. Or is it easier on you? Easier for you not to have to deal with me, because you know I don't see you like that? I'm sorry, Zack, but you'll always just be my brother. I love you to death, but not the way I love Lo-" She slammed her hand over her mouth, shocked at how easily she had said those words.
"Logan. Dammit, I should've known. It's always about your precious Miracle Boy, isn't it? How can you love him?! He's an ordinary, Maxie, and he'll get you killed. If you get him captured, they'll torture him 'til he gives away your location, and none of us can afford that. Are you willing to risk all our lives for one man?"
"Yeah, I think I am." Max muttered the words so quietly that Zack almost missed them; even then, he refused to believe them.
"What did you say?" All of Zack's anger exploded. "You would give up everything we have for *him*? I knew it!" He sighed. "I knew he'd convince you that you could have some kind of normal life, and that you'd believe him, and that you'd get hurt eventually. But you know what? Don't come crying to me or the others when he breaks your heart or winds up dead. Because I guarantee you, there won't be a transgenic shoulder in the whole damn world for you to cry on."
"Hey!" Original Cindy butted in angrily, sensing the toll this conversation was having on her friend. "I know you're this big tough soldier-guy or whatever, but you can't just get up in here and start attacking my boo like that. If she's got something good, and you really love her, then I think you'd better be happy for her. God knows she deserves it, after everything you and that hellhole you came from have put her through. And until you can be happy for her, I think you'd better get the hell out of her town."
Zack turned all his anger on her now, glad for a new target. "I don't think so. I don't take orders from civilians."
"Dammit, Zack, why won't you just give up? There are no civilians, and no soldiers, and no chain of command here. We aren't in Manticore anymore. I know the others may be willing to just blindly follow you, but I'm not like that! I have a life, and I have friends, and I have, believe it or not, people who love me. I have a family here, as hard as it might be for you to imagine that people could love a genetically engineered killing machine." Max turned away, still speaking, albeit in quieter volume. "If you can't accept that, then you should just go. You can come back when you've learned what an asshole you are."
"But.Maxie.I." Zack, ever the steel-hearted soldier, was at a loss for words. Original Cindy seized the opportunity, using a trick one of her old girlfriends had taught her. She grabbed his earlobe, pinching it tightly between her fingernails and using it to drag him toward the door.
"You're leaving now. Next time, try something called a telephone." She knew that the more powerful X5 could easily escape, but she had caught him off guard both by the pain brought by the move and the bold nature of her actions, and that shock alone forced him out the door.
When her brother was gone, Max fell into her roommate's arms. "God, how screwed up is he?
"Sorry, girl, but you got one messed up family. Wouldn't be bad if he was just all 'bout you, like I can see he is, 'cause you're not exactly related or nothin'. But see, the creepy thing is how he keeps calling you baby sister and all. Original Cindy just can't feel that." She smoothed back the younger girl's hair, intent on cheering her up. "Now I feel like I gotta do somethin' for my girl so she's not all down on herself. Lemme see those nails."
Max held out her hands for inspection, laughing when her friend scolded her. "Girl, these are not tools! These are nails! You do not use them to fight, or to open various doors, or to.do whatever else it is you do!"
"If they're there, why not? Kick or be kicked in the ass world out there, OC. Gotta take advantage of everything I got to get ahead."
"Damn. Not many people can out-argue Original Cindy, boo, and you've made it an art!" She worked carefully on her friend's nails, finally satisfied that they passed inspection.
"I try." Max eyed her no-fuss manicure, the relief that it didn't look anything like Original's long purple-and-blue nails evident on her face.
"I guess you'll be at Logan's tonight?"
"I.actually, I was thinking I would stay over here. Y'know, do the friend thing?" Max's voice carried an unsure tone, one that was immediately picked up on.
"Girl, what is it? Not that I don't appreciate bein' thought of, but I figured once you and him had somethin', you'd be over there full-time. And you know I'm all for that. Whatever makes you happy, girl."
"I just.what if I shouldn't, y'know? It's not like I came over 24/7 before last night anyway, so would it be weird if I did now? It's not like we've actually said we were going out or anything.and what if he changes his mind?"
"Oh, I get it now. You're having second thoughts, and you think he is too. Well, lemme tell you somethin'. You didn't see him when I called last night. He came runnin' over here, all pretending like he wasn't scared, and just scooped you up and took you back to his place. I have never- never- seen a guy who cared that much about a girl."
"So you think I should go over there."
"Hell, yes! But first we gotta get you all beautified." Original Cindy's eyes held a renewed gleam, something Max was both glad to see and wary of at the same time. She ran back to Max's room, digging through the curtained-off closet space until she found what she needed. She pushed the outfit into Max's arms, pushing her into the bedroom. "You better come out here with *that* outfit on, and no protesting!"
When Max emerged a few minutes later, she was wearing skintight leather pants, her favorite combat boots, and a sheer silver top with just a few extra sparkles to keep everything out of sight. "Cin."
"I know it's girlie, and I know it's.well, to be blunt, sexy as hell, and you're probably not too comfortable with that, but just trust me. That boy won't be able to think straight for a week!" She led Max to the door, pointing out that the sun had set just a few minutes ago. "Now get gone."
***************************************************************** A/n: And this is where I'm ending it. The next chapter is probably going to skip a few months into the future, so that their relationship is developed more. Because while I'm *not* good at writing the beginning of a new relationship, I can write the problems that they face later on! I guess I don't have to tell you to review.but I am anyway, so REVIEW!
